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Ruǎn Jí (Chinese: 阮籍;210-263) is one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. He is associated with the guqin melody, Jiu Kuang ("Drunken Ecstasy") which was believed to be composed by him.

The life and creative work of Ruan Ji is associated with the crucial and dramatic period in China history, which was followed by large changes in different spheres of life. After virtuous rule of Han dynasty, in which the norm of ritual piety, philanthropy principles of legendary rulers of ancient, aspiration to nurture officials – calm, reasonable, serving for consciousness, not of fear, became governmental norm, began the so called Period of Disunity.

Ruan Ji witnessed bloody wars, struggles for power in the court of Wei, and the Sima family's rise. Despite the dim times, this was a period of great achievements in spiritual culture. Bright peculiarity of that time was intellectual life: interests of metaphysics for discussion of which were hold open academic forums – “pure talks”, profound interest to the problem of highest purpose, the great popularity of Daoism and spreading of foreign learning – Buddhism, rapid expansion of lyrical poetry; flourishing of all fine arts, from painting to architecture, bringing the spirit of “grace and freedom” (Feng Youlan) to that epoch.

Invention of cheap paper in the second century spread the literacy among large population, what brought to occurrence of large amount of educated people – shi (士). Consisting of people with sense of understanding the only true idea of good, truth and justice, virtue. Heroes of the day became irreproachable virtues man, who relinquished from politics, and preferred still life in the countryside or hermit’s life to shine of the court life. They, so called sublime man – junzi (君子), brought into being ideas of the protest against iniquitous reign, hidden by exterior unconcern, and greatness in undemanding and pureness. So, in view of this new people the life of officials was “the life of dust and dirt”, and real dirt of peasant labor was a symbol of purity.